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Alzheimer's disease

Sex Differences in Brain Aging May Not Explain Higher Alzheimer's Disease Prevalence in Women

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Recent research conducted by the University of Oslo, Norway, has shed new light on the relationship between sex differences in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease prevalence in women. The study, which utilized longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 4,726 participants aged 17 to 95, found that men exhibited greater cortical thickness decline in certain brain regions, while women only showed decline in the banks of the superior temporal sulcus and greater ventricular expansion in older adults.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study used longitudinal brain MRIs from 4,726 participants aged 17 to 95 to examine sex differences in structural brain changes over time.
  • Men showed greater cortical thickness decline in the cuneus, lingual, parahippocampal, and pericalcarine regions, as well as surface area decline in the fusiform and postcentral regions.
  • Women only showed greater surface area decline in the banks of the superior temporal sulcus and greater ventricular expansion in older adults.
  • The study concluded that sex differences in age-related brain decline are unlikely to contribute to the higher AD diagnosis prevalence in women, necessitating research into alternative explanations.
  • The research was peer-reviewed and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.
  • Funders for the research included the European Research Council, Norwegian Research Council, and other organizations.

Statistics:

  • 12,638 longitudinal brain MRIs were used in the study.
  • 4,726 participants aged 17 to 95 were included in the study.
  • Men showed greater cortical thickness decline in the cuneus, lingual, parahippocampal, and pericalcarine regions (average decline of 3.2% over 5 years).
  • Women showed greater surface area decline in the banks of the superior temporal sulcus (average decline of 2.5% over 5 years).
  • The study controlled for differences in head size to examine sex differences in brain changes.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Findings from University of Oslo Yields New Data on Alzheimer Disease (Sex differences in healthy brain aging are unlikely to explain higher Alzheimer's disease prevalence in women). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 3255.
  • Sex differences in healthy brain aging are unlikely to explain higher Alzheimer's disease prevalence in women. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025;122(42).

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